Chemistry experiment goes wrong at East Valley High School, sends 4 to hospital

A chemical spill during a lab experiment at East Valley High School in North Hollywood on Monday sent four people to the hospital and prompted a campus-wide evacuation.

A chemistry teacher at the school at 5525 Vineland Ave. apparently mistook sulfuric acid for nitric acid in a classroom experiment, causing a spill and dangerous fumes to fill the lab. By mid-afternoon, the teacher, along with a female teacher in her 30s, a 16-year-old male student and a second student, were hospitalized.

"The students that were in the class and adjoining classes were checked out by the fire department to be sure that they were OK," said Carrie Allen, the school principal, adding that they were not seriously hurt.

The entire campus was evacuated about 1:30 p.m. while a hazardous-materials team worked to contain the noxious chemical mixture. A dozen other students were evaluated.

A stretch of Vineland Avenue in front of the school was closed as authorities investigated the incident.